Archives

06/03/2013

Jason Kidd retires from NBA; Mavericks should retire his number from their roster

Mark Cuban was none too pleased the way point guard Jason Kidd left town one year ago, but there should come a time the two sides can agree business is business and and honor the player who meant so much to this franchise.

Kidd said in a statement released by the New York Knicks: "My time in professional basketball has been an incredible journey, but one that must come to an end after 19 years. As I reflect on my time with the four teams I represented in the NBA, I look back fondly at every season and thank each every one of my teammates and coaches that joined me on the court."

It was about one year ago Kidd signed a three-year deal with the Knicks, which left Cuban steaming mad that his point guard bolted. This season with the New York Knicks was enough to know Kidd, 40, was finished.

Kidd was pretty good for the Knicks during the regular season, and the Mavs obviously missed his point guard skills and ability to set up an offense. But in the playoffs, especially against the Indiana Pacers, Kidd was exposed as an old guy who could no longer keep up.

He did not score in any of his final nine playoff games with the Knicks.

However un-fun his departure was from the Mavericks, his time here should not be dismissed as anytihng other than significant. Considering his impact on this franchise, and specifically their title team, his number should be retired.

He was No. 2 overall pick by the Mavericks in the 1994 draft, and was named the Rookie of the Year that season. He was a part of the Three Js - Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn and Jimmy Jackson - that supposedly was going to lead a Mavs resurgence. But then Toni Braxton turned that plan to hell.

In Dec. of '96, Kidd was traded along with Tony Dumas and Loren Meyer to the Phoenix Suns for Sam Cassell, Michael Finley and A.C. Green.

He led the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances, and eventually was traded back to the Mavs in February of 2008.

The trade eventually hit huge when during the 2011 NBA playoffs he was the starting point guard who had, despite some limited athletic ability, worked his way into becoming an efficient 3-point shooter that defenses had to honor.

He may not have scored a ton, but he was a total pro who who led and knew how to set up players.

Players loved to play with Kidd because he was a pure point guard who could pass, and how to get into an offense.

If you don't think the Mavs missed him, watch footage from their team last season when they struggled to execute basic point guard plays that he made look routine.

There is no NBA Championship for the Dallas Mavericks unless Jason Kidd is running the point.

Considering what he did for this team on his first tour, and certainly his second, merits his jersey to hang from the rafters at the American Airlines Center.

Comments

By all means. Let's retire the jersey of a guy who went to jail for beating his wife back in 2001.

And if we're gonna retire the jerseys for all the ex-players who have a career shooting percentage of 39% and 12 PPG, then we need to make a lot of room in the rafters. If you want to argue that Kidd was an 'assist guy' then don't. He only averaged 8 assists PG offset by 3 TO's PG (that's a +5 net,..and anything but great).

And as a point guard, he led his team to only ONE title in 19 years. Pitiful. Imagine a head coach on the sidelines for 19 years with only one title to his credit.

You guys can worship this average player and wife-beater (reportedly).